Protesters Confront Governor Over Budget

Protesters Confront Governor Over Budget

(May 7, 2003) Over 100 demonstrators rallied in front of the Rochester Business Alliance (RBA) building at 930 East Ave today as Governor Pataki arrived to cunjure support for his proposed budget offering tax breaks for corporations and the rich through cuts to health care and education. The rally was organized by Metro Justice and the Working Families Party. The event was attended by local elected officials and various capitalists.

12:00 N: Protesters gather in front of Rochester Business Alliance

12:10pm: Protesters advance toward RBA building and are turned back by security. Jon Greenbaum, Metro Justice Organizer, tells crowd that the Hutchison House (RBA building) is exempt from property taxes.

12:12pm: Raging Grannies begin to perform as SWM in white SUV shouts “Get a job.”

12:16pm: Two RPD officers arrive

12:26pm: Pataki arives in SUV with State Trooper escort. Protesters chant “Override.”

12:55pm: Coca Cola delivery truck backs into driveway.

Metro Justice Vice President commented, “Pataki didn’t come to speak to the people, the children or even the elderly whose property taxes would be raised by his economic policy. He is in there talking to the business people who make up his constituency. Pataki’s approval ratings have dropped to 40 percent and, given the rumor that he is loking for a job with the Bush adminstration, his ratings will help him fit in with the rest of them. It tells you something when the majority of Republican legislators oppose the Pataki cuts to health care and education.”

Working Families Party officer Don Deperna, Jr., stated, “We came out today to encourage the governor not to veto the budget passed by the state legislature which restore his cuts. He is trying to claim he won’t raise taxes, but we’re not gullible enough to believe that he won’t force an increase in local taxes to compensate for his cuts. The Working Families Party offered a more progressive alternatives to revenue enhancement that make sure the tax burden is shared statewide. Our proposal would decrease the deficit by increasing the personal tax rate on the rich, close corporate loopholes to force existing businesses to pay taxes on profits collected in New York State and to reinstate the stock transfer tax curently on the books. The stock sales tax alone would restore about one-half of the deficit and cost only five cents a transfer. Ninety-three percent of the people paying that tax would be non-New York State residents.”

Deperna explained that the Working Families Party was founded “by labor, religion and community organizations standing together to further the rights of working families in New York State. This party was established in Monroe County just over a year ago.”

At this point a budget restoring state funding to health care and education was passed by the state legislature. Pataki threatened to veto. He also attempted to intimidate certain Republicans by threatening to use damaging information against them in retaliation for an override vote. With public outrage growing against the governor and his rich friends the “other superpower” is gaining ground.